Milestones in Certification

A group from among the first examinees in Miami, in 1963.
Guess which of these examinees became the 1967 AAMA President?
Click here for the answer.

In 1963 the first AAMA CMA Certification Exams were conducted in California, Kansas, and Florida, with 112 medical assistants registering. The American Medical Association (AMA) helped develop the first tests. Here's how certification has evolved over the years:

By 2016, more than 190,000 medical assistants had been awarded the Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA), or CMA (AAMA), credential.

1961

The Certifying Board is established.

1962

A sample exam is offered.

1963

The first exams are conducted.

1977

The National Board of Medical Examiners is engaged as the test consultant.

1978

The exam is given in January and June at test centers nationwide.

1980

CMAs can recertify by continuing education or exam.

1998

Requirement that exam candidates be graduates of a medical assisting program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) goes into effect.

2002

Graduates of medical assisting programs accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) become eligible candidates for the exam.

A CMA pin journeys into space aboard a NASA shuttle.

2003

Recertification becomes mandatory to use the CMA credential.
The October exam is added.

Computer-based testing for the CMA (AAMA) Certification/Recertification Examination began January 5, 2009.

The Continuing Education Board (CEB) celebrated the release of the new e-Learning Center (e-LC), which offers constant online access to continuing education.

2011

New AAMA Mission Statement was approved:

The mission of the American Association of Medical Assistants is to provide the medical assistant professional with education, certification, credential acknowledgment, networking opportunities, scope-of-practice protection, and advocacy for quality, patient-centered health care.

Definition of medical assistant was approved:

Medical assistants are multiskilled members of the health care team who perform administrative and clinical procedures under the supervision of licensed health care providers.

CMA (AAMA) Core Values were developed and approved:

Actively participate in the delivery of quality health carePromote patient safety and well-being.

Contribute to a positive health care experience for patients.Demonstrate integrity and respect, and protect patient confidentiality.

Advocate the essential value of certification and continuing education.Embrace change, growth, and learning.

2014

The Board of Trustees approved a new AAMA Vision Statement:

A CMA (AAMA) for every patient.

The following trademarks and logos were registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office:

CMA (AAMA)

American Association of Medical Assistants

AAMA

Answer: Elvera Fischer, RN, CMA-C, the AAMA's 1967 president.

The First 60 Presidents

1957

†Maxine Williams, CMA-A (KS)

1958

Mary Kinn, CMA-A, CPS (CA)

1959

†Lucille Swearingen (OK)

1960

†Marian Little (IA)

1961

Bettye Baldwin (IN)

1962

†Lillie Woods (CA)

1963

Alice Budny (WI)

1964

Judy Coleman, CMA-AC (TX)

1965

†Rose Merritt (GA)

1966

†Marge Slaymaker (KS)

1967

Elvera Fischer, RN, CMA-C (IL)

1968

Margaret Webber, CMA-C (OH)

1969

†Mildred Crawford, CMA-AC (TX)

1970

†Ruth Dize (VA)

1971

†Marie Young (IN)

1972

†Helen Stephens (UT)

1973

Elisabeth Massey, CMA-AC (CA)

1974

Marian Cooper, CMA-C (PA)

1975

Betty Lou Willey, CMA-AC (MI)

1976

Laura Haynes, CMA-AC (OH)

1977

Joan Michaels, CMA-A (NC)

1978

†Jeanne Bloom, CMA-A (IA)

1979

†Wini Schwartz, CMA-AC (CA)

1980

†Jean Mobley, CMA-AC (TX)

1981

Dot Sellars, CMA-A (VA)

1982

Mabel Ann Veech, CMA-A (FL)

1983

†Betty Mays, CMA-A (AZ)

1984

Janet Connell, CMA-A (KY)

1985

Ivy Relkin, CMA-AC (NY)

1986

Margaret Corcoran, CMA-AC (NJ)

1987

Josephine Estrada, RN, CMA-AC (TX)

1988

Ann Jordana, CMA-AC, RT (FL)

1989

Barbara Parker, CMA-AC (WA)

1990

Juanita Blocker, CMA-C, LPN (AL)

1991

Jean Keenon, MA, Ed, CMA-A (AL)

1992

Mary Lou Allison, CMA-C (FL)

1993

Janice Caplan, CMA-A (NY)

1994

Geneva Straughan, MBA, CMA-AC (TX)

1995

Cheryl Vineyard, CMA, POLT (NM)

1996

Ima Backstrom, CMA (AR)

1997

Carol Clapp, CMA, EMT (TN)

1998

Norma Parker, CMA (NE)

1999

Glenda Cartee, CMA (SC)

2000

Joyce Nakano, CMA-A (CA)

2001

Mary Dey, CMA-AC (MI)

2002

Julianna Drumheller, CMA (VA)

2003

Luella Wetherbee, CMA, CPC (ID)

2004

Theresa Rieger, CMA, CPC (OK)

2005

Lee Damon, CMA (NY)

2006

Mary C. Dyer, CMA-A (TX)

2007

Rebecca Walker, CMA (AAMA), CPC (NC)

2008

Linda Brown (NJ)

2009

Kathryn Panagiotacos, CMA (AAMA) (FL)

2010

Boni Bruntz, CMA-A (AAMA) (CO)

2011

Betty Springer, CMA-C (AAMA) (FL)

2012

Ann Naegele, CMA (AAMA) (TX)

2013

Chris Hollander, CMA (AAMA) (CO)

2014

Nina Watson, CMA (AAMA), CPC (CA)

2015

Charlene Couch, CMA (AAMA) (UT)

2016

Paula Purdy, CMA (AAMA) (OR)

†Deceased

How it Began

In 1955 the Kansas Medical Assistants Society organized a meeting to consider the formation of a national organization. A total of 78 representatives from 15 states attended. The organizing states voted on and accepted the name of the American Association of Medical Assistants. The 78 representatives each donated $5 to an interim fund for beginning organizational purposes.

September 8–12, 2006
Hilton Hotel, Milwaukee
600+ people, including
representatives of 43 states

The Charter Meeting

Just one year later, 250 people attended the charter meeting in Milwaukee, Wis.
During a three-day period, meeting attendants adopted a formal constitution and bylaws, and elected a core of officers.
The first educational sessions for medical assistants were offered at this meeting.
And so, the 1956 meeting goes down in history as the charter meeting of the AAMA.

Williams cofounded the AAMA in 1956 and became the association's first president. She started the AAMA based on the conviction that an organization of medical office employees would greatly benefit the health care field.

Williams believed so strongly in the profession that she wanted to share it with others. In 1959 she donated $200 to start a fund to help needy students pursue their medical assisting studies. This would become the Maxine Williams Scholarship Fund. In honor of her dedication to the association, Williams was presented the Life Member Award in 1976.

Maxine Williams, CMA-A, conducting a leadership seminar at Sacred Heart General Hospital in Eugene, Oregon, in September 1966.

Williams also made a name for herself in the Radiologists Business Managers Association (RBMA). She became a member of the RBMA's first Board of Directors, edited the association's first publication, and maintained its headquarters in her home. For all of her efforts, Williams was appointed Executive Secretary of the RBMA and later was conferred the title of Executive Secretary Emeritus.

Williams passed away in January 1984, but her legacy lives on through the AAMA.

The Woman Who Started It All:
Maxine Williams, CMA-A

The mission of the American Association of Medical Assistants is to provide the medical assistant professional with education, certification, credential acknowledgment, networking opportunities, scope-of-practice protection, and advocacy for quality patient-centered health care.